Barnett Shale Compressor Station Can Emit 6 Times More VOC’s Than Cement Plant

According to documents obtained by a Denton Record Chronicle FOI request, a Barnett Shale compressor station can emit 390 tons of VOCs per year which is 6 times more than a cement plant. The VOCs contain carcinogens and neurotoxins that should be reported to the Toxic Release Inventory but the oil & gas industry has exemptions from that environmental law as explained HERE.

While the Barnett Shale gas industry is large — well sites, processing units and compression engines move millions of cubic feet of gas per day — no gas drilling or production facility in Denton County has reported toxic releases to the EPA inventory in seven years, since the drilling boom began.

Known quantities in air quality
Some firms report drop in toxic releases, though haze remains
Sunday, December 20, 2009
By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe

These toxins are especially damaging to the brains of unborn children!

It seems most of the industries in Denton County are working to prevent toxic emissions and making good progress. The TRI reports have decreased, however, emissions from gas development have dramatically increased. Industry ignores pleas and demands to curb toxic emissions and TCEQ has failed to exercise their “enforcement arm” since 2006.

Emissions from gas development should be aggregated and all exemptions from our federal environments laws should be repealed.

Also see:

News Article Shows Breathing in Barnett Shale is Risky Business